The Impact of Populism on the Republican and Democratic Parties Politics in the United States: A Case Study of the Trump Era

Abstract

This study analyzed how populism can address societal dissatisfaction and polarization. This study aimed to provide a critical assessment of the impact of Trump’s populism on political communication and democracy in the U.S. The qualitative approach was adopted. CasMudde’s (2004) theoretical framework of populism was utilized and, it pertains to the ‘thin-centered ideology. Trump’s campaign speeches and materials, as well as scholarly works from the Pew Research Center, the Brookings Institution, and formal magazines, were primary and secondary sources used. The description of the Trump phenomena and the related anti-elite and nationalist discourse demonstrates how the Republican Party has modified its agenda. Unlike the traditional conservative and laissez-faire orthodoxy of free trade, the Republican Party has now adopted a posture of economic nationalism. This shift has its primary impact on the rural and working-class, which has historically aligned with the Party, but has also alienated moderate and suburban conservatives. Trump has increased polarization by undermining the credibility of reporting agencies and accusing the media of a conspiracy of fake news and a rigged system. He has downplayed the truth of media reporting. The strategy employed by the Democratic Party works well in mobilizing urban and progressive electorate, but does not fully satisfy the needs of rural and conservative populations, which points to two major weaknesses in the counter-populist narrative. This research examined the ways in which, during his presidency, Trump, as a populist, changed the American programs and reorganized the structure of the party system. This research illustrates the impacts on the areas of populism, party systems, electoral behavior, and trust in institutions, which is vital for prospective research in these areas.